MLB News Notes and Mailbags: Week of 5/4-5/10

Taking a look at some of the things that have happened this week in the world of MLB.

Gleyber Goes Hard

During the New York Yankees game on Friday night against the Cleveland Indians, the Yankees top prospect, rookie Gleyber Torres hit his first Major League home run. And found himself up with a chance to walk it off on Sunday for the Bombers and did so for his second Big league homerun

The biggest turn around in baseball has been that of Gerrit Cole of the Houston Astros. Cole has been the most discussed starter in baseball this season as his spin rate has increased and he has found new life with the Astros. There has been speculation of different reasons as to why but what is clear across the board is that he is dealing. Cole and the Astros took on the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night and he absolutely dominated, striking out 16 DBacks en route to his first career shutout.

On Saturday night, the Boston Red Sox fireballing closer Craig Kimbrel collected his 300th save in the Major Leagues. What makes his 300th save so impressive is that Kimbrel became the fastest closer to reach the 300 saves plateau collecting number 300 in only 330 save opportunities and in 494 pitching appearances.

Max Scherzer of the Washington Nationals just continues to rack up the strikeouts. On Sunday in the Nats walk-off victory Scherzer struck out another 15 batters bringing his season total up to 80 which ranks in number one in the NL currently this season.

Matt Adams of the Washington Nationals has been on fire, in seven games in May, Adams has seven home runs. Adams has been taking advantage of playing time as has truly capitalized on the opportunity the Nats gave him.

George Springer of the World Champion Houston Astros had himself a career night as he collected six hits in six at-bats in Oakland against the A’s. Springer becomes the only the second Astros to ever accomplish this feat, as Joe Morgan also had a six-hit game in 1965. But what makes Springer’s six-hit contest just a bit better as it took Joe Morgan twelve innings to complete the feat, while Springer got in done in the regulatory nine innings of work.

James Paxton better knowns as the “Big Maple” join a special club on Tuesday as he pitched a No-Hitter. Paxton became just the second Candian to pitch a no hitter, Dick Fowler of the Philadelphia A’s pitched one in 1945. And Paxton becomes just the fifth Mariner to pitch a No-No (Randy Johnson (1990), Chris Bosio (1993), Feliz Hernandez (Perfect game 2012), Hisashi Iwakuma (2015) Mariners also pitched a combine No-Hitter in 2012).

The New York Yankees are making history as they have won 17 out of 18 for the first time since 1953. The Yankees have now past the Red Sox for first place in the AL East and for the best record in the Majors, they now stand at 26-10. The Yankees have won eleven straight games in the Bronx for their longest win streak at Yankee Stadium since 1985. The Yankees gained 8 1/2 games in the standings in 19 days.